($1,235+) Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL Movers

Full-service moving costs from Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL

For the 1,981-mile move from Riverside, California, to Chicago, Illinois, full-service movers cost between $1,402 and $11,471. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $363 - $2,420 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in Riverside generally start around $239 plus $75 per hour, per mover.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Riverside to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,402 - $5,495
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,468 - $7,402
• 4+ bedrooms: $6,548 - $11,471

Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Riverside to Chicago.

Specialty moving services from Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL

Specialty needs vary by market — 84% of Riverside movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Chicago, 93% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Riverside to Chicago?

All three below meet the standards set by the Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association, the group most Illinois movers are affiliated with.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.

Moving container costs from Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL

Moving containers from Riverside, California, to Chicago, Illinois, cost between $1,610 and $5,954. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Chicago. If you go over that window, storage in Riverside adds around $100/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Riverside to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,610 - $3,150
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,211 - $4,414
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,881 - $5,954

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $847 in Riverside, CA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
• Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $91 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $182 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
• Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Chicago, IL, destination before booking.

What are the best moving containers Riverside to Chicago?

1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
3. MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)

Moving truck rental costs from Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL

Truck rentals from Riverside, California, to Chicago, Illinois, range from $1,175 - $3,338 for the 1,981-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

• Fuel for the drive: $763 - $872
• Daily insurance: $36/day
• Equipment rentals: $8 - $24
• Riverside daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Riverside to Chicago based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,175 - $2,221
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,311 - $2,890
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,703 - $3,338

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Gas: Fuel adds $763 - $872 for the 1,981-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in Riverside, California, for about 5 hours typically costs around $847.
• Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
• Lodging: The 1,981-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $182 per night, adding $363 - $545 in hotel costs total.
• Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $61 and $363.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Riverside to Chicago?

1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
3. U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)

The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.

Freight trailer costs from Riverside, CA to Chicago, IL

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Riverside, California, to Chicago, Illinois. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.

Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $1,089 and $3,708.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Riverside to Chicago:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,553 - $2,778
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,701 - $3,708
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,445 - $4,524

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $91 - $182 to your final bill.
• Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
• Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Riverside, California, typically costs $847.

What are the best freight companies from Riverside to Chicago?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
3. ALL Service Handling (4.76/5 stars): ALL Service Handling is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned facilities and accessible live support staff make scheduling and route coordination easier on local-area routes than what most national freight providers can offer.

Cost of living: Riverside, CA vs Chicago, IL

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Chicago, side by side with Riverside on housing, income, and taxes.

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.